How to Buy the Right Toilet Seat for your Toilet- A Complete Buying Guide

The toilet in your bathroom is the single most significant piece of hardware that influences its comfort and luxury. The right toilet seat matches your personal needs and the design of your bathroom – enhancing the bathroom experience. This detailed buyer’s guide will allow you to learn about the various types of toilet seats and available add-on features to help you make an informed purchasing decision.

Types of Toilet Seats

There are two main kinds of toilet seats- standard close and soft close.

Standard Close Toilet Seats: A standard close toilet seat comes in both contemporary and traditional styles and is made of a variety of materials and finishes. They easily fit all types of toilets.

Soft Close Toilet Seats: This type of seat has a gentle closing mechanism so that it does not bang against the bowl when you just allow it to let go freely. This adds a sense of luxury to your bathroom and prevents the occasional trapped finger while also muffling the irritating noise of the toilet seat slamming closed echoing throughout the house during the silent night hours.

Shapes of Toilet Seats:

Some of the commonly available toilet seats shapes are:

Round Toilet Seats: Round toilet seats are the most common toilet seats used in bathrooms. Generally, a round toilet seat will cost a little bit less than its elongated cousin. Their size is 16.5 cm, making them compact and less expensive than the elongated seats.

Elongated Toilet Seats: As their name suggests, elongated toilet seats are of oval shape and are slightly longer than the round seats. The length of an elongated seat is 18.5 inches, making them more comfortable and a bit more costly than their traditional counterparts.

Materials of Toilet Seats:

Toilets seats are available in a variety of materials. You can choose the one that matches well with your bathroom decor.

Thermoplastic: This is one of the most common materials used for contemporary toilet seats. It is durable, gives an attractive look to the seat, and is easy to maintain and clean.

Duroplast (Thermoset): Duroplast (also referred to as Thermoset) is a deluxe polymer material that is durable, long-lasting, and the most suitable choice for a classy and contemporary toilet seat.

Engineered, Molded or Solid Wood: This an excellent choice for more traditional bathrooms and comes in a choice of finishes to fit your style, including plain white and natural oak. If you live in a tropical area where there is moisture in the atmosphere, then wooden seats are best to be avoided.

Features to consider while buying a toilet seat:

Once you have determined the desired shape and material of your toilet seat, it is time to consider the features that add to both luxury and comfort to finalize a toilet seat that fits your bathroom design and personal choices.

Nightlight Seat: If you or someone in your house makes frequent trips to the bathroom at night, this feature will help decrease the disturbance to the sleep of others. These seats are equipped with a built-in nightlight that allows you to use the toilet without turning on the lights and making unwanted noises.
Quick Release Seat: A must have for all those cleanliness conscious individuals who religiously clean the hidden spots and stains to keep their toilet sparkling. This feature allows you to remove the seat completely and clean the seat effortlessly. When you are done with your cleaning, you can place the seat back to be used again.
Bidet Seat: To make your bathroom visit refreshing and sanitary, a bidet seat provides complete cleansing and personal comfort. Ideal for the whole family, a bidet seat is a convenient alternative to a larger remodel to incorporate a full bidet along with the toilet, which is both space consuming and costly. Many bidet seat models come with a warm air dryer to give you a warm dry feeling and help in reducing the usage of toilet paper.
Heated Seat: What could be more comforting than a warm toilet seat in chilly weather. A heated seat keeps you warm and cozy and adds to the luxury quotient of your bathroom.
Deodorizing Seat: Everyone likes to enter a clean and nice smelling bathroom. To save yourself from the embarrassment of leaving the bathroom with not so fresh smell for the next visitor, installing a deodorizing toilet seat is a smart investment.
Padded Seat: There is no denying that a padded seat adds to the comfort level of any type of toilet seat, making it warm and soft. Make sure you ensure the comfort and durability of the seat before buying one for your toilet bowl.

Wrapping Up!

With a market full of multiple options, when purchasing a new toilet seat, you must know what suits you best in terms of comfort, cost, and design. If you know what you and your family want, you can easily checklist your needs from the given options and buy the right toilet seat for your bathroom in no time.